Dredge



. J. H. HILL E-r'AL DBEDGE FiLedJan. 29. 1942 Dec. 28, 1943.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 28, 1943. J. H. HILL ETAL DREDGE Filed Jan. 29,1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I [til/enter James E HL'ZZ fl'owaref .7? Ura /e71Patented Dec. 28, 1943 v i DREDGE James H. Hill and Howard Craven,Redondo Beach, Calif.

Application January 29, 1942, Serial No. 428,764

6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dredgingmachines and more particularly to a dredger scoop and means foroperating the same.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a scoopstructure for suction dredgers adapted to be operated in such a mannerthat the scoop is constantly filled with muck or other material to besucked up by the dredging machine.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a scoopstructure which can be used either for wet or dry dredging.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothe reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of the improved dredgingmachine.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the dredger scoop.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2.

, Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the scoop.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line G--6 ofFigure 3.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen that numeral 5 generally refers to a dredging boat having aneduction conduit 6 extending from a suction plant I thereon. Numeral 8denotes a stand pipe which at its upper edge is connected by a conduit 9to the intake side of the suction plant i. The lower end of the standpipe 8 is connected by a universal union ill to a short suction spout H,this being provided at its lower end with a slide plate I2, the sideedge portions of which are bent inwardly to define guide flanges I3 inoverlapping disposition with respect to side flanges M on guide ribs I5,the latter being disposed on the top of a scoop structure generallyreferred to by numeral Hi. This scoop structure in conjunction with thespout II represents the important part of the present invention.

The scoop I6 is made up of a pair of V-shaped blades A and B joined ormerging together at their corner portions and each of the V-shapedblades is also V-shaped in cross section, it being further noted inFigures 4 and 5 that a by-pass opening I! is formed through the joinedportions of the blades A and B to permit for the of water to the endthat sand, muck or other material can be fully gathered within theconfines of the blades A or B being pulled and under the spout lllocated thereover.

Extending from each blade A, B are chain links l8, l8 and from each endof the slide plate l2 extends a chain link I9. These chain links at eachend of the scoop I6 extend outwardly to connect to an eye 2!) which, inturn, is connected to a drag cable 2!.

One of these cables 2! extends under a pulley 22 on the lower end of aprop 23 supported by the boat 5, while the other cable 2! extends undera pulley 24 supported by the lower portion of a prop 25 carried by theboat 5. These cables 2| extend upwardly over other pulleys to a powerplant 26.

It can be seen that it is the intention to pull the scoop it back andforth in long sweeps between props 23 and 25. In pulling the scoop, forinstance, toward the left in Figure 3, it will be observed that as thechain link l9 pulls on the slide E2 the joint ill will flex as the plate12 rides to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, it then beinglocated over the blade A and in a position to suck up muck or othermaterial which has been gathered by the blade A as it is being pulled.Obviously, surplus water can escape through the by-pass opening l1.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is tb be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. In a dredging machine, a scoop having a pair of gathering portionsand adapted to be reciprocated, and a suction spout movably connected tothe scoop and adapted to be moved on the scoop to sucking position ateither gathering point depending upon the direction in which the scoopis being moved.

2. In a dredging machine, a scoop having a pair of gathering portionsand adapted to be reciprocated, and a suction spout movably connected tothe scoop and adapted to be moved on the scoop to sucking position ateither gathering point dependingupon the direction in which the scoop isbeing moved, a stand pipe, and a yieldable connection between the standpipe and the spout.

3. In a dredging machine, a scoop having a pair of gathering portionsand adapted to be passage invention, what is scoop to sucking positionat either gathering point depending upon the direction in which thescoop is being moved, and pull means which when actuated first moves thespout to the proper sucking position on the spout and scoop respondingdirection.

5. In a dredging machine, a scoop having a simultaneously in the cor thescoop and then moves -point depending upon the direction reciprocated, asuction spout movably connected to the scoop and adapted to be moved onthe scoop to sucking position at either gathering in which the scoop isbeing moved, said scoop being made up of a pair of V-shaped groovedblades having their inner portions connected.

6. In a dredging machine, a scoop having a pair of gathering portionsand adapted to be recip'rocated, a suction spout movably connected tothe scoop and adapted to be moved on the scoop to sucking position ateither gathering pair of gathering portions and adapted to be 20 I pointdepending upon scoop is being moved, said inner portions connected,

the direction in which the scoop being made up of a pair of V-shapedgrooved blades having their and a water by-pass at the connected cornerportions of the blades.

JAMES H. HILL. HOWARD F. CRAVEN.

